CVE-2008-5704 in gpsdrive
Summary
by MITRE
src/unit_test.c in gpsdrive (aka gpsdrive-scripts) 2.10~pre4 might allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/gpsdrive-unit-test/proc temporary file, a different vector than CVE-2008-4959 and CVE-2008-5380.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5704 affects gpsdrive-scripts version 2.10~pre4, specifically within the src/unit_test.c component. This represents a classic symlink attack scenario that exploits improper handling of temporary files in a local privilege escalation context. The flaw occurs when the application creates temporary files without adequate security checks, making it susceptible to race conditions and malicious file overwrites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through a well-known attack vector that has been documented in numerous security advisories and research papers.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the gpsdrive application creating temporary files in the /tmp/gpsdrive-unit-test/proc directory without proper validation of the file existence or ownership before writing to them. When a local user can predict or manipulate the creation of these temporary files, they can establish symbolic links that point to critical system files or configuration files. This allows the malicious user to overwrite files that they would normally not have write permissions to, effectively bypassing normal access controls. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-377 as "Insecure Temporary File" and represents a variant of the broader CWE-378 "Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions" category.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites to potentially enable privilege escalation and system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could overwrite critical system files such as configuration files, binaries, or even system libraries, leading to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The attack vector requires local access and the ability to create symbolic links, but once successful, it can provide a persistent foothold within the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" when the compromised application runs with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5704 should focus on implementing proper temporary file handling practices that align with security best practices established in the industry. The most effective approach involves using secure temporary file creation functions that ensure atomic creation with proper permissions, such as mkstemp() instead of mktemp() for creating temporary files. Additionally, applications should validate file ownership and permissions before operating on temporary files, and should avoid creating temporary files in world-writable directories like /tmp. System administrators should also consider implementing file system permissions and access controls to limit the ability of unprivileged users to manipulate symbolic links in system directories. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to principles outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and the CERT Secure Coding Standards for preventing such race condition vulnerabilities in temporary file handling.